Editing styles in films

The use of editing within film can be used to show speed, pace and action to show the movements within the scene more effectively. Editing can also be used to portray some types of emotion of the actors within the scene. Within the film industry there are two main types of editing that are used dominantly throughout the film industry: slow-paced editing and fast-paced editing.

Slow-paced editing
Slow-paced editing often consists of shots that are 5 or more seconds long and these shots can be used to create tension or intimacy between characters and their surroundings. They can also be used to further show the emotions that the character is currently having.

Fast-paced editing
Fast-paced editing usually consists of shots that are no longer than 2 or 3 seconds and can be used to show the extent of action within a scene. These shots are normally used to show the action between two or more characters, like in a fight, or during a chase scene.


Examples:
Psycho

In this scene in the movie, Psycho, the use of both slow-paced and fast-paced editing is used to create two different atmospheres:
The start of the clip consists of several slow-paced editing shots of a young woman taking a shower which creates a rather relaxing and calm setting for the audience. One of the slow-paced shots is of the woman standing underneath the shower whilst an unknown figure emerges from behind the shower. The use of this slow-paced editing shows the unknown figure getting closer and closer to the woman in the shower, which creates tension for the audience as they anticipate what this figure will do. The next section of the clip shows several fast-paced shots of the figure holding a knife and the woman screeming (both of which are typical conventions of a horror movie). Although the audience do not actually see the blade harm the woman, the use of fast-paced editing between the shots portrays this inference because of the quick back-and-forth shots between the scenes of the figure lashing out with the knife and the woman screaming and trying to avoid the contact from the knife, and also the shots of the bath water becoming darker - suggesting that the woman has been cut and is bleeding.The clip ends with some slow-paced editing of the shots of the woman's hands slipping down the tiles of the wall and the woman herself falling into the tub of the bath.

Jurassic Park

In this clip from Jurassic Park, the use of slow-paced editing is used to create a dramatic and astonishing atmosphere for the audience which reflects the emotions of the characters within the scene. The scene shows the first time that the main characters have seen the dinosaurs within the park itself. The use of slow-paced editing gradually reveals the sight of the dinosaurs and to portray the emotions that the characters are feeling during this scene. The use of slow-paced editing also emphasises the size of the dinosaurs compared to the humans in the clip - the way the camera has to tilt up to capture the top of the dinosaurs and the slow-paced editing used to show the gradual full appearance create a mouth-open-in-disbelief atmosphere.

The Strangers

In this clip from horror film, The Strangers, slow and fast-paced editing is used to capture the different types of emotion that both the character in the clip and the audience go through. The clip begins with slow-paced editing as the woman hears unexplained noises and begins to look worried and scared. She then slowly makes her way to the patio door on the other side of the room - the use of slow-paced editing here is reflect her movements and to create tension and suspense for the audience as they do not know what is hiding behind the curtain, like the woman in the shot does not know. When the woman pulls back the curtain they becomes face to face with an unknown figure wearing a mask. The use of fast-paced editing here is to show the panicked reaction and movements to the masked figure standing outside. The use of the two types of editing used in the same scene sets the audience up for what might come from the woman's actions: the slow and gradual build up to the woman opening the curtain and revealing the figure who stands behind it set the audience up for a jump-out-of-your-seat reaction which the woman in the shot experiences as she then jumps back, shocked and scared, to what she has just seen - like the audience would.

Fast and Furious

This clip from the action-packed film, Fast and Furious, features fast-paced editing throughout. The use of fast-paced editing in the clip is to emphasise the movements and speed of the cars involved within the race. The fast-paced editing can be seen as a reflection of the action that is currently going on in the clip and can be used to prepare the audience for the action that may follow i.e. car crashes and overheating of the vehicle. Fast-paced editing is also used to show the manufactions of the car itself i.e. when one of the drivers pressure a specific button the use of fast paced editing shows what quick movements are needed to happen in order for the car to perform at the speed the driver wants.



Narrative in films and the narrative in our own film idea

One of the inspirations for the narrative that we decided on for our film is The Hangover. In The Hangover, the opening scene shows one of the grooms friends ringing the bride and telling her that something had happened to her fiancee whilst they were all in Las Vegas. As the film goes on the three men shown in the opening set out to find the groom, Doug. During the film, the audience find out what had happened in Las Vegas that led to the disappearance of the groom, catching up with the scene the audience saw at the beginning, and how he then gets married. Unlike many other films, this film, along with the two sequels to the trilogy, does not follow the traditional Todorov model, but shows a more intriguing structure of a film by starting with the disequilibrium. 
  The film that Courtney and I have decided to create follows a similar structure to that of The Hangover by making the opening at the beginning of the film, showing the present state and situation of the main characters before using the technique of several flashbacks that show how the main characters ended up in that position. The rest of the film would continue to show the story line to how the main characters got themselves into the position they were in at the beginning of them and then the film switches to opening shot and shows how the main characters got themselves out of their situation.

Season 1, Episode 12 of Hawaii Five-0 (not a film I know, but the use of flashback is used exceptionally well within the episode). The episode begins with video footage showing one of the main characters kneeling on the ground with a bomb device secured around his neck:

The rest of the episode shows how the character ended up with the bomb device secured around his neck and how they disable and remove the device:

The flashback within the episode works well as the dramatic beginning leaves the audience wanting to know how the character ended up in such a terrifying position and whether the character lived or died.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This examples uses the technique of flashbacks to answer the question "can you remember the first candy you ever ate?"

The use of this flashback is very effective as it shows the audience a more interesting way of answering a question rather than just through words spoken within dialogue. The flashback also gives the audience an insight into the childhood of Willy Wonka - allowing the audience to further understand how his past has affected his present state.

Big Fish

In the film, Big Fish, flashbacks are used to tells the stories of main character, Edward Bloom. The flashbacks are used very efficiently within the film as it gives the audience a clear understanding of events opposed to one character talking them through it. The audience can experience for themsevles the events that Edward Bloom was faced with during his life time more effectively as they are seeing the story unravel itself opposed to listening to someone repeat the story in the same screen.

Camera shots and angles in films

In films there is a variety of different camera angles that are used:

Establishing/Long shot:

An establishing/long shot is normally used to show the audience where the film will be located or to show a change in location within a film. The shot can also establish a context for the scene by showing important figures and object. The shot often shows an exterior, i.e. a building or a landscape, for example, a town, the beach or the countryside and is used to display scenes of thrilling action with very little detail clearly visible:

Examples:

2012: A film that uses this shot type regularly is 2012. 2012 is an American science fiction disaster that follows the lives of Jackson Curtis, played by John Cusack, and his family as they attempt to avoid being sucked into the geological and meteorological super-disaster.

The film uses the establishing long shots to capture the action unfolding and the severe consequences that follow. The screenshots below, taken from the film, show natural disasters such as earthquakes destroying roads, buildings and cars and meteors destroying the natural habitat. From these shots, the audience have a clear idea of what impact is caused by these disasters and what can be destructed by them.  



Salt: another film that regularly uses establishing and long shots is Salt. Salt is a 2010 American action thriller spy film. The main character, Evelyn Salt, played by Angelina Jolie, who is accused of being a Russian sleeper agent goes on the run to try and clear her name.

The film uses establishing/long shots to show the audience the different locations of where Evelyn Salt escapes to and to show the chasos that follows her attempted escape. The screenshots below show two different settings of where Jolie finds herself whilst trying to clear her name and a police car chase. From these shots the audience can easy follow Jolie's geological journey and understand how important it is for her to clear her name as she is being tracked down by the police: 

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire: Another film that widely uses establishing/long shots is The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is an American science fiction adventure film and is the second instalment in The Hunger Games trilogy. In the film main characters, Katniss Everdeen and Peeta Mellark, become targets of the Capitol after their victory in the 74th Hunger Games sparks a rebellion in the Districts of Panem.

The film uses establishing/long shots to update the audience of what district and surroundings the main characters are in and to capture the action unfolding around them. From the screenshots below the audience are given a clear image of where the scenes are located and the action occurring within them:

Medium shot:

Contains a shot of a figure from the knees or waist up and is often used for dialogue scenes or to show detail of action. Background detail is kept to a minimum as this shot is usually used to focus on dialogue and character interaction. 

Examples:
Friends with Benefits: A film that widely uses medium shots is Friends with Benefits. Friends with Benefits is a 2011 romantic comedy film that follows the story of two characters, played by Justin Timberlake and Mila Kunis, as they begin to develop deep feelings for one another during a friends-with-benefits relationship.
The film uses medium shots to capture the interactions between the two characters during scenes of dialogue and interaction that show detail to the growing connection between the two. The below screenshots capture the interaction between the two characters:

No Strings Attached: A second film that widely uses medium shots is No Strings Attached. No Strings Attached is also a 2011 American romantic comedy that follows the story of the two main characters, played by Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman, as they begin to develop deep feelings for one another whilst having a sex-only relationship, although Kutcher admits his feelings, Portman struggles to come to terms with the commitment involved within a relationship. The film uses medium shots to show the dialogue and interaction between the two characters as the film, and their relationship, progresses. The screen shots below clearly show the audience the growing feelings they have for one another through their actions and dialogue:

LOL: A final film that uses medium shot types widely is LOL. LOL is a 2012 American coming of age comedy-drama-romance starring Miley Cyrus and Demi Moore. The story follows the life of teenage girl Lola, played by Cyrus, as she experiences break ups, make ups and tricky boyfriend situations. The medium shots are used in the screenshots below to show the breaking interaction between Lola and her ex boyfriend and the growing attraction between Lola and her new boyfriend, who also happens to be her ex boyfriend's best mate:

Close up:

Shows very little background and concentrates on either a face, other body part or a specific detail of mise-en-scene. This angle magnifies the shot and emphasises the importance of the subject within the shot; the subject can be emotion or feelings shown through facial expression or body language, words written on paper or a specific object. The angle has the power to take the audience into the mind of the character on screen and can be a very intimate shot. This shot type can also be used to make the audience feel something towards a character, an action or an object, and can range from extremely comfortable to extremely uncomfortable.

Examples:

Dear John: A film that uses close up shots widely through out the film is Dear John. Dear John is a 2010 American romantic drama-war film based on the novel written by Nicholas Sparks and stars Channing Tatum and Amanda Seyfried. The story follows the life of a soldier, Tatum, after he falls in love with a young woman, Seyfried, whilst on a break from his war career. When he is set to return they agree to send letters to one another and the film follows the emotional roller coaster that is their on-off relationship. The screenshots below show the two different emotions that the audience see from both of the main characters throughout the film: sadness and happiness:

My Sister's Keeper: A second film that uses close up shots throughout it is My Sister's Keeper. My Sister's Keeper is a 2009 drama that shows the story of a family as they face the battle of leukemia within one of the children, Kate. Her younger sister Anna was conceived by means of IVF in order to be the dependency that her older sister needs. Anna is unable to continue her childhood life as she wanted to as she is not able to join in with certain activities i.e. cheer leading, and sues her parents when asked to donate one of her kidneys. It is revealed during the film that Kate believed she would not survive surgery and wanted to die and asks Anna to refuse to donate her kidney to her. Kate later dies in hospital. The screenshots below show the emotion that is most dominant through the film, sadness. The use of the close ups in each screenshot show the deep emotion of the characters and make the audience feel pathos towards them:

Safe Haven: A final film that uses close up camera shots regularly throughout is Safe Haven. Safe Haven is a 2013 American romance film based on the Nicholas Sparks novel, that stars Julianne Hough and Josh Duhamel. Mysterious woman, Katie, appears in a small town and her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draw her into two relationships: one with a man named Alex who has two young children and a neighbour, Jo. The more time Katie spends in the town, her guard lowers and she appears to become increasingly attached to Alex and his children. All peace is broken when disaster strikes and her past comes back to haunt her with catastrophic consequences. The screenshots below show the emotion in the faces of Katie and Alex as they come to terms with their emotions and feelings and allow the audience to understand the emotions that the characters are currently going through:

High Angle

An elevated shot above the action to give a general overview for the audience. The main characters appear less significant as they are shown as smaller and often end up being swallowed by the action surrounding them.

Exmaples:

Friends with Benefits: This film mainly uses high angles for two certain points during the film, the two flash mob scenes:

In each of these extracts from the film the high angle shot is used to capture the action of the dance flash mob within the setting. The high angle gives the audience an almost god-like feeling as they are appear above, looking down upon the action. The audience are given a clear view of the action within the shot due to the height, and as the camera angle changes from a close up or medium shot to the high angle, the two main characters shown in each video fade out within the crowd.

Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol: Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol is a 2011 American action film and stars Tom Cruise. The film follows the eventful plot of the familiar team, from previous Mission Impossible films, setting out to clear their organisation's nameafter the implication of a bombing. This film uses high angles to capture the fast paced action within the film:

This clip shows, arguably, one of the most dramatic, on-the-edge-of-your-seat moments in the film. The use of high angles within this extract of the film emphasises the height of the building and how disastrous the consequences could be if something went the slightest bit wrong.

Eye Level/Point of view: a neutral shot where the camera is positioned as though it is actually a human observing the scene in the frame, i.e. so that the actors heads are on the same level and the camera recording.

Examples:

Mean Girls: Mean Girls is a 2004 American teen comedy film that stars Rachel McAdams, Lindsey Lohan, Tina Fey, Amanda Seyfried and Lacey Chabert. The film follows the life of new student Katy, played by Lohan, as she befriends the popular clique in high school, the Plastics, played by McAdams, Seyfried and Chabert and turns them against one another. The film uses a wide range of eye level shots shown in the screenshots below. The screenshots show scenes of dialogue where eye level angles are present; this angle makes the audience feel as if they are in the shot with the characters in the movie and makes them feel more involved in the plot line:

The Perks of Being a Wallflower: The Perks of Being a Wallflower is an American 2012 coming-of-age comedy drama that stars Logan Lerman, Emma Watson and Ezra Miller. The film follows the life of an introvert freshman, who is suffering from regular breakdowns throughout his childhood ever since his auntie died, who is taken in by two senior who welcome him into the real world. The eye level shots are used widely within the film are usually used in scenes of dialogue and group discussion; these scenes use this type of camera angle to include the audience into the scene itself; to make them feel a part of the movie and to further aid their understanding of the characters within the film:

Low Level: these angles can give an increase in height for the actors and actresses and can also give a sense of speeded motion. Low angles can give a sense of confusion or powerlessness to the audience when used in film.

Examples:
The Fast and the Furious: The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift is an American 2006 street racing action film and the third installment in The Fast and the Furious film series that stars Lucas Black, Bow Wow and and Nathalie Kelley. The film follows the life of Alabama teenager Sean Boswell becomes a major competitor in the world of drift racing after moving in with his father in Tokyo to avoid a jail sentence in America. Low angles are used widely within the film and are usually used in scenes of where a race is taking place.The low angles emphasise the speed that the vehicle is travelling at and highlight the consequences that could come from such a high speed, i.e. crashes:

Death Race: Death Race is an American 2008 science-fiction, action thriller film that stars Jason Statham and Joan Allen. The film follows ex-con Jensen Ames as he is forced by the warden of a notorious prison to compete in a car race which inmates must brutalize and kill one another on the road to victory. The film uses low angles widely throughout during the scenes of the car races to put emphasis on the speed of the vehicles and keep the audience engaged to what could happen during the race:

Initial ideas for my own film opening

I will be making my film opening with another student in my media class - Courtney Radley (courtneyradleymedia.blogspot.com)

Analysis of Opening: The Promise (Amateur Film Opening), 2013 - Crime

Opening: starts with opening title credits, young teenage boy sitting alone holding a gun, flashback to how he ended up where he is: meeting with a gang of older teens - gets given a gun and load to 'jack the garage'. Main character makes his way towards garage, threatens the man behind the till and then shoots him when the man reaches over for the gun. Makes a quick getaway by running out of the garage and leaves the man behind the counter bleeding.
Setting: urban estate in a 'rough' area, suggests trouble with gangs and violence, a build up to something 'big' that affects the story line.
Props: gun - suggests violence. 
Camera shot types/angles: medium shots - feel for surroundings, audience have clear idea where film would be set, close up - shown expression on the face of the characters, audience know what emotions each character is feeling and knows how to feel towards each one.
Lighting: low-key lighting - dark, suggests trouble for main character.
Casting: mixture of young and old teenagers - possible gang, stereotypically often found on estates like the one shown.
Costume and make-up: jogging bottoms and hooded tops - stereotypical for gang members to be wearing when out on the streets. 
Movement: 
Music: gangsta rap - supports the props, setting and casting - suggests gang culture and lifestyle
Positives: appropriate title and music, variation of different camera angles and shot types, appropriate mise-en-scene included to represent genre.
Negatives: dialogue is sometimes difficult to hear.
Why I chose The Promise: As well as looking at professional film openings, I also wanted to analyse amateur openings, as they show a more, realistic approach to what a student or young amateur can create opposed to professional cameramen with the expensive budget and high-tech equipment they have access to. The Promise shows aspects of crime genre  and the main characters include teenagers and the setting is an urban estate, all of which I would like to focus upon for my own opening.

Analysis of Opening: Killer Surprise (Amateur Short Film), 2013 - Thriller

Opening: a young woman is walking home unaccompanied, yet she doesn't know that she is being followed by a mysterious man in dark clothing. The man reaches the woman's house before she does and is seen grabbing a knife. The woman returns home and is greeted by the man and the knife, but is then presented with a birthday cake by him. The woman takes the man into an embrace and he wishes her a 'happy birthday' but then looks psychotically into the lens of the camera.

Setting: begins in a lobby then expands to outside - nothing unusual about setting. House/flat - dark when first entered - suggests something bad will happen, light gets turned on - revealing ending.

Props: knife - suggests violence, an attack, injury or even death 

Camera shot types/angles: medium, long and pan shots - show surroundings and distance between the two main characters - suggests something to going to happen for them to collide at one point. Close up and extreme close ups - shows the facial expressions and movements of the individual characters, suggests that their movements are going to build up to something.

Lighting: outside, bright - around sunset - natural, suggests nothing major will happen, but darkness is closing in - again suggests a build up to something

Casting: young man and woman, Nothing unusual about the woman, just on her way home. Man - peculiar, suspicious - seems to be after something.

Costume and make-up: woman - ordinary clothes. Man - dark clothing, hooded top - suggests he doesn't want to be seen easily, wants to remain unnoticed. 

Movement:woman walks normally, suggests that she is completely unaware she is being followed, until she turns around, but sees nothing out of the ordinary and continues walking. Man, follows woman suspiciously, then runs toward her house/flat and grabs a knife and waits for her, 

Music: dark, low-pitched, creates suspense for the audience - suggests a build up to something dramatic.

Positives: varied use of shot types, appropriate music - sets tension and suspense for audience, unexpected ending - quite humorous for audience

Negatives: shakey camera movements - lessens the tension and suspense of the atmosphere 

Why I chose Killer Surprise: As well as looking at professional film openings, I also wanted to analyse amateur openings, as they show a more, realistic approach to what a student or young amateur can create opposed to professional cameramen with the expensive budget and high-tech equipment they have access to. Killer Surprise is described as a thriller, a genre which I would like to focus upon for my own opening. 

Analysis of Opening: Bully, 2001 - Crime, Drama, Thriller

Story line: The story follows the plot to murder a mutual friend of several teenagers in Florida as a vengeful act against the continual abuse and psychological torture he pressured onto others. The teens soon learn that along with their actions come very serious consequences. Based on a true story.

Director: Larry Clark

Stars: Brad Renfro, Nick Stahl and Bijou Phillips

Opening: The film beings with the title credits with no sound. After this we see a close up of who we believe to be the main character on the phone at home, making two sexual comments to whoever is on the other end of the phone call. Urban, electric music begins to play and the setting changes; the audience are now shown a moving, establishing shot taken from the view of a car's side window of the surroundings of the location of where the film will be set throughout: urban suburbs, stores, roads and a sign post saying 'Hollywood'. The setting changes to a medium shot of a car containing two teenage girls pulling up into the car park of a store, making references to how carrying out sexual acts and working hard enough, you can get you exactly what you want. The setting changes to inside the store where the two girls are being served sandwiches by the previous main character we met before and his friend. Here a conversation is held between the group about meeting on a beach later on in the day.The location changes to the beach where the two guys finish surfing and invite the two girls watching to a party within an exchange of close up and medium shots. The next scene shows all four of the teenagers in a car driving through the urban suburbs where they pull into a different car park.

Setting: Urban suburbs - rough side of town, certain issues regarding negative influences addressed throughout film.

Props: cars, cigarettes - suggests growing up too fast, trying to mature and fit in with stuff before you're physically and mentally ready - represents a common theme throughout film.

Camera shot types/angles: close ups - suggest which characters will be dominant throughout, suggests ideas of what character's background is and how audience should react to each character. Establishing/long shots - shows setting of where film is most likely to be throughout, gives audience impression of what to expect from rest of the story line.

Lighting: natural - suggests film will show true representation of teenage life and what the main characters have to go through - can relate it to certain situations. 

Casting: group of teenagers - suggests film will deal with the issues surrounding growing up and trying to 'fit in with the crowd' stage - true representation of teenage life for some individuals.

Costume and make-up: topless, bikini - minimal clothing - suggests a true, bare representation of the lifestyle some teens live. Top and trousers - stereotypical clothing for a teen - typical issues will be dealt with and themes throughout, i.e. smoking, drugs, sex, alcohol etc.

Movement: pushed into objects - element of overpowering, bullying present, character just takes it - suggests the bullying has been happening for a while, used to it.

Music:gangsta rap, hip-hop - suggests a tough and upbeat lifestyle - could also represent tough decisions that could be made later on in the film and upbeat, fast actions that need to be taken, sets 'edgy' atmosphere for opening of film.

Positives: the setting of the film is made clear by the use of establishing shots and sign posts, all four of the main characters are introduced, the dialogue between the main characters gives the audience a sense of what they are like.

Negatives: audience are not given a clear idea of background for the main characters.

Why I chose Bully: Bully is based around the lives of a group of teenagers, the age range of the majority of the cast I would put into my coursework and the impacts of alcohol, drugs and sex, again the topics I plan to face in my film opening. Bully centers around the genres of Crime, Drama and Thriller, three of the genres I plan to base my opening on. 

Analysis of Opening: Havoc, 2005 - Crime, Drama, Romance

Story line: A pair of young, naïve and wealthy teenagers living in Los Angeles are exposed to hip hop culture that inspires them to imitate the ‘gangsta lifestyle’, although they learn that every action can have a consequence as they come into trouble with they come face-to-face with a real gang of Latino drug dealers.

Director: Barbara Kopple

Stars: Anne Hathaway, Bijou Phillips, Shiri Appleby and Channing Tatum

Opening: starts with titles of producers. View from hand held camera, interview type experience with a teenage girl in a car park surrounded by other teenagers – main character, explains her take on society – the current separation, close up and extreme close ups.

Establishing, panning shots of surrounding settings – urban American city – tall buildings, extensive motorways, beach, suburbs with more title credits appearing over the top of footage and background ‘gangsta’ music to match theme, finishes on current setting of previous interview – car park full of teenagers. Camera angle changes from hand held view to long shot from a different camera, capturing the casual interview taking place – more insight into ‘gangsta culture’ among teenagers, then a fight breaks out between two gangs. Exaggerated use of swearing and insults exchanged before punches were thrown, girls join in fight, not just the male characters.

Setting: Urban America - rough part of town, where most crimes and committed and where most trouble happens. Abandoned car park - suggests they have nowhere better to go, not easily seen by adults of law enforcers - can do whatever they like, represents the freedom most teenagers crave.
Props: hand held camera might be a dominant prop throughout and introduce certain issues or depth into a character's background. Cigarettes - attempting to grow up too fast, fit in with and be associated with 'wanna be' gangsta lifestyle.
Camera shot types/angles: camera angle changes from hand held view to long shot several times - suggests that hand held camera might be a dominant prop throughout and introduce certain issues or depth into a character's background. Close up of certain characters - mean 
Lighting: low-key - evening/night, but natural - could represent a dark side to society and the lives of teenagers, yet the natural light from the moon could suggest the 'real' aspects of what actually happens within society and the influences and the problems they could create - a true representation.
Casting: group of teenagers - suggests that purpose of film could be showing the influences of growing up and how they can affect a life and how to deal with them in the right way opposed to the wrong way.
Costume and make-up: jeans and t-shit - typically expected from teenagers, could suggest typical teenager-based film. Big hoop earrings, chains - represent a chavy, wanna be gangsta lifestyle - represents background to characters.
Movement: sexual interpretations between characters - suggests a background to the relationship between them, outbreaks of fights - suggests the anger within the teenagers' minds, have to let it out one way or another.
Music: gangsta, rap - supports idea of 'wanna be' gangsta lifestyle - think they're 'it' but really they don't have a clue.
Positives: clear showing of setting of film, introduction to main character, given an insight into what to expect from rest of the film, i.e. gangs, fights etc.

Negatives: too much time spent on establishing shots of surroundings – could have been narrowed down and used more effectively to introduce story line

Why I chose Havoc: Havoc is based around the use of gang culture, alcohol consumption and drug use among teenagers in urban American – all three topics will feature in my opening as well as the genres of Crime and Drama. The opening to Havoc will give me ideas on how I should introduce the topics into my own coursework.

Analysis of Opening: Project X, 2012 - Crime

Story line: Three high school seniors throw a birthday party to get themselves noticed within their high school. The party starts off small but things soon start to get out of hand as the word of the party spreads and the night progresses.

Director: Nima Nourizadeh

Stars: Thomas Mann, Oliver Cooper and Jonathon Daniel Brown

Opening: begins with text – gives audience impression that either something so offensive, embarrassing or shocking is going to happen within the film that the producers have to apologise in advance on behalf of the production. Set in a town in California, America. Film begins with footage from what seems to be a hand held camera – quality of film looks amateur along with the filming techniques, for their own purpose and entertainment, not for mass viewing. Immediate knowledge of time, date and event of the purpose of the film provided by one of the main actors standing outside what the audience would expect to be the dominant setting of the film. Title of film is shown and music begins in background – typically teenager related. Point of view camera angle further exploring setting, begin to learn more about plot of film and background of characters through the dialogue between the main characters. Classic storyline of parents go away for the weekend, kid left to look after the house and been told he can only have 4-5 friends over maximum, audience expect that this will not happen and that this will turn into a huge house party with serious consequences.

Setting: Town in California, America - someone's house - suggests that this will be the dominant setting throughout the film, pretty usual.
Props: handheld camera - suggests that it will play major part in film and be a dominant prop used throughout
Camera shot types/angles: switches between amateur camera used by one of the characters to professional filming, plenty of 'point-of-view' shots - makes audience feel that they are in the film with the characters, feel part of the movie - can relate to story line more.
Lighting: natural - daytime, normal, nothing to suggest that something out-of-hand is going to happen, further suggests that story line could flip and the event they are planning, a birthday party, will almost definitely become too much for the three teens to handle.
Casting: bunch of teenagers - suggests the film will focus on the influences society has on growing up and how it affect individuals.
Costume and make-up: jeans and t-shirts - pretty ordinary and usual clothing to expect from a typical teenager - will story line reflect the normal expectations of a teen?
Movement: carefree, 'do whatever I want attitude' - until parents walk in - told off, shut down by parents - reminded of responsibilities - represents relationships between most teenagers and their parents - trying to grow up too fast and being reminded of their age and place in society by their parents.
Music: Urban, rap - typically teenage house party - represents the event that's going to happen later in the film - foreshadowing events
Positives: learn a lot about the background to the main characters, the meaning behind the film and what is expected to happen, lots of different camera angles and shots types used within opening, storyline – relatable for audience, introduced to main characters

Negatives: storyline becomes too revealed within first five minutes, audience can already predict what is going to happen

Why I chose Project X: I chose Project X because one of genres that the film covers in Crime, which would feature it my initial ideas for my coursework piece. Also, Project X is centred on teenagers and the impacts alcohol consumption and drug use can have, the same age of the characters and topics of concern that I would like to centre my opening around.

Analysis of Opening: Spring Breakers, 2013 – Crime, Drama, Thriller

Story line: four college girls who land themselves in jail after they rob a restaurant in order to fund their spring break vacation are bailed out by a drug and arms dealer who want them to participate in some dirty work in return for their freedom of being bailed.

Director: Harmony Korine

Stars: Vanessa Hudgens, Selena Gomez, Ashley Benson, Rachel Korine, Gucci Mane and James Franco

Opening (first five minutes): Begins with title credits – use of bright, neon, aluminous colours with bold, flashing font – like the ones used for nightclub signs – suggests cast are in their late teens, discovering some of the impacts of growing up when it comes to drinking and the impacts of being under the influence of alcohol. No music, just text on screen until the title of film appears (roughly one minute into opening), electronic music brought in – music you would expect to hear in most nightclubs – linking in with impression of title credits.

Music increases in volume as first location is introduced – beach with clear blue skies, filled with a mixture of both males and females in their late teens partying in beach wear and drinking alcohol from bottles, cans and the well-known ‘American red cups’ – hints at a more detailed setting, summer on a beach somewhere in America. Close ups and extreme close ups of random teens with background out of focus, panning establishing shots of surroundings. Demoralising – exactly what parents wouldn’t want to see their kids doing – letting the influence of alcohol control their actions, completely letting loose. Screen turns black, sound of loading a gun and a shot.

Different location – boxed in room, dark, not well kept, mess everywhere – sums up typical teenagers lifestyle? Various teenagers smoking cigarettes and weed, passed out on sofas. Introduced to the first two main characters: Rachel Korine, passed out, and Vanesssa Hudgens, inhaling smoke from a bong – careless image. No music, faint background noise coming from children’s programme on TV. Various shots – close ups, extreme close ups and medium shots.

Different location – school/college/university buildings, establishing shots of new setting. Calm faint music – contrasts with previous scenes – different side to the teenagers that were shown before.

Different location – inside a lecture hall, hundreds of students with Apple Macs in front of them – establishing pan shot of the hall, calm music continues but fades into background as voice of lecturer overpowers. Extreme close up of another main character, Ashley Benson, and Vanessa Hudgens – messing around, clearly not interested in the lecture – only excited about Spring Break.

Different location – inside a studio, class lead by a teacher, introduced to final main character, Selena Gomez, by a close up – only main character who seems interested in her academic studies opposed to socialising events.

Setting: University/college/school - suggests main characters are going to be students there. Beach - carefree, sense of freedom - what teenagers crave. Room - dark, confined - suggests they have been confined into certain positions where they felt pressured to 'fit in with the crowd'.
Props: Bottles, cans of alcohol, cigarettes, bongs - negative influences on growing up - suggests film is going to hit at reality and not create some kind of 'bubble' where everyone is happy and lives happy ever after where they can't be touched by negative influences of hurt. 
Camera shot types/angles: establishing shots of beach and school/college/university, pan of study/lecture hall, dark room - showing where film could be set throughout, or a setting that will have a big impact on the story line. Close up and extreme close ups of main characters - made clear who will be focused upon during film.
Lighting: natural - beach, natural surroundings, can just be yourself, sun - bright, high-key, happiness. Study/lecture hall - low-key lighting, dark and boring side of their lives - don't want to be there, would much rather be at the beach or elsewhere. Room - dark, low-key lighting - represents dark side to growing up, smoking, drinking passing out etc.
Casting: ex-Disney stars - Disney grown up, suggests how not all of the stars continued to act like they did on the TV shows - grew up and where they are now, what they're doing on a daily basis, shows that their lives are not innocent and 'happy ever after' - faced with negative influences, dealing with pressure etc.
Costume and make-up: minimal clothing, beach - bikinis, swimming shorts - revealing, showing their inner character, what they really want to be doing, opposed to sitting in a lecture hall, fully clothed - bored.
Movement: beach - dancing, running around in the sea - carefree, freedom. Study/lecture hall - all sitting still - confined, bored, caged in. Room - passed out, out of their heads - no clue what's going on - drained from education and their actions. 
Music: upbeat, electronic, house - to keep up with their movements and actions - growing up too fast.
Positives: introduced to main characters and given ideas about what to expect from the film, Disney grown up – audience will be familiar with 3/4 of the main characters from Disney shows they watched when they were younger.

Negatives: not much information is actually revealed within the opening, just a mixture of two very different locations – how will they ever link together? Will now see their loved Disney characters in a completely different light - could affect their image they had of them as a child

Why I chose Spring Breakers: I chose to analysis the opening of Spring Breakers as the genres are Crime, Drama and Thriller - the genres I have chosen to focus upon for my own coursework piece. The main characters in the film are a mixture of teenagers and gang leaders with the subject of growing up, dealing with consequences, alcohol, drugs and making money illegally, the initial ideas for my film opening.